Bunny Thief!

I don't know which one did it, but somebunny stole the socks I left on the floor and hid them inside the bunny hideaway box.  Here are the two suspects in their Romeo & Juliette moment:

You can see the hideaway box on the lower right.  Yeah.  My socks are in there.  Bunnies are funny.

My Tony Passed Away

With a heavy heart I have to report that my fat boy Tony has passed.  He was very, very old.  Over 2 years old.  He lived a long life for a rescued feeder mouse.  He was healthy until this week, although he still seemed really happy right up to the end. 

He started to keep one eye half closed and really slowed down.  His breathing got labored and last night he may have had a small seizure.  I knew there was nothing that could be done for him, so I didn't want to put him through any stress of taking him to a vet/unfamiliar environment.  I wanted it to be peaceful for him.  It's not peaceful at all for me.  I loved him so much, and he will be missed so badly.

I held him for the last time this evening and fed him his last meal.  I made him some lasagna noodles because I knew it wouldn't be long.  He didn't seem interested in any other food.  But the lasagna--he ate that with gusto.  He seemed so genuinely happy to be chewing on that noodle that it almost gave me hope that he would pull through.  When I checked on him at 4:30 am I saw him in his final sleep inside one of the tubes I made for him.  And then the tears started. 

Tony was just a nice mouse who I believed loved me.  He was happy-go-lucky and always seemed glad to see me.  I'll never forget the day we met and he looked at me quizzically with his little jewel-red eyes and tentatively sniffed the air as if to ask, "Are you my new mom?" 

I never will forget him.  I couldn't have loved that sweet boy more.

Making Pet Mice Happy

For me it is one of life's greatest joys to bring joy to the creatures in my care.  My mice are such great pets, and they really appreciate the efforts.

One of the simplest ways to keep them entertained is to create fun habitats for them each time you clean their cage.  The enjoy climbing, exploring, and varied textures, toys, and treats.  I accomplish this by building habitats out of recycled food boxes and paper towel cores.  To clean the cages I find a mini dustpan and brush to be very helpful to clean quickly.



I clean the aquariums with vinegar because it is safe for the pets.  I also use Care Fresh bedding. 

The mice love it and it is safe for them.  Wood chips cause respiratory problems for pets and people.  I am very allergic to cedar chips.  The Care Fresh performs well and controls odor the best.  And the mice love to climb around on it and dig through it.

I gather my supplies:  saved up boxes, a utility knife, and scissors:

The knife is great for cutting climbing or connecting holes in the boxes without hurting your hands.  Scissors work well for cardboard tubes.

I just keep a large box in the mouse room (yes, they have their own room;-)  and fill it with the empty containers that I save for building their habitats.  I try to get different shapes and sizes so I can build different configurations to keep things exciting for the mice.



Once the cage is clean and dry and the bedding is down I look at what I have and try to think of inventive ways to use it.  My mice love pasta boxes.  I cut ladders on the side for them to climb.

This time I put paper towel cores (with several holes for sclimbing through) around the perimeter of the cage.  My mice Tony & Elena love racing through the tunnel and climbing out of the holes to run on top of the cores too.

I also like to give my mice a great place to sleep.  I cut up old t-shirts or sheets into strips and tuck them inside smaller boxes so the mice have someplace really soft to sleep where they feel protected.  I wouldn't use towels or anything terrycloth because their tiny nails get caught in the material.  Usually an aspirin box or other medicine box is a perfect size for a mouse house.

I like to add Oxbow Timothy Hay to the habitat for texture, fiber, and something for the mice to dig through and eat.  Willow balls, chew sticks, and a tail-protecting wheel are also a must.  The mice really need things to chew and a way to exercise.  I also have a freedom ball that they love to get in and explore the rest of the house (just block your staircases).

Now for the really fun part:  watch your mice enjoy what you have created for them to enjoy.  Sometimes mine will "popcorn," or jump for joy, because they are so excited about their new digs.  This is my big boy Tony right after I put him in his new habitat:

Tony is the sweetest mouse.  He just loves attention and to be held.  He knows his name and loves when I talk to him.  He loves to rubbed on his forehead and neck.  He also gets visibly happy if I give him a piece of pasta for a treat.

And here is Elena my girl exploring her new habitat, too:

Elena is my spirited acrobat who loves climbing high.  She is one smart mouse!  She likes to cover up her food dish to hide it, and her favorite thing to eat is pecans, tomato, and watermelon.  She likes to grab the pecan from my fingers and eats them with such gusto.  She loves fruit, and she enjoys watermelon so much that she squints her eyes in joy when she eats it.

They definitely have their own personalities, and they are a joy to watch and care for.

Two-Ended Bunny!

Doesn't it look like one rabbit with two heads on opposite ends?  Bunnies are funny.  And they are also easy to please--just give them something yummy to destroy.  This edible Oxbow Bungalow is definitely a favorite.  

Now, my buns love it for different reasons.  The dwarf, Humphrey, loves it to hide in and hang out.  Rosalie (the big white one) on the other hand got mad because she couldn't fit inside of it, so she decided to destroy it.  Over the course of several days, layer by layer, she chewed it apart.  Poor Humphrey could be seen still inside looking perplexed as to why she would do this to his new home.  

Anyone who shares their home with a bunny knows how they are endless sources of laughter.  They have such personality.  Rosalie is incredibly demanding of Humphrey's affection.  She will beeline across the room at warp speed toward him and stuff her face under his chin to demand "Groom me!"  Sometimes he will.  Sometimes he won't.  If he won't she gets offended and gives him a little nip.  Sometimes he will just let her lay under his chin like this:

Rabbits Can Learn Voice Commands

Humphrey & Rosali in "their spot" under  the end table.

Rabbits are smarter creatures than most people would give them credit for.  Spending time with rabbits gives you a better idea of just how intelligent they are.

I have trained my buns to listen to voice commands.  Rosalie and Humphrey spend most of their time outside of their pen, and they don't like to go back into the cage when it is time for them (and me) to go to bed.  I was having trouble getting two of them into their pen.  It was like playing musical bunnnies--I would put one of them in and the other would jump out.  It wasn't easy, so I thought there must be a better way.  I started thinking about how smart these two are, and I figured I could train them the way you would train a dog:  with voice commands.

I decided on a plan.  I started to walk up to them when it was time for them to go to their pen and I would say repeatedly, "Go to bed" while walking slowly toward them and guiding them into the pen.  Then, I would praise them with "Good bunnies.  You went to bed!'  Then I offer them a favorite vegetable.  Over 2 weeks I did this every night, and now all I have to do is say the command and they automatically go into their pen.  I am so proud of my bunnies:-)

A Bunny Breakthrough!

 

January 8, 2011

It's been over 2 months since we adopted Rosalie. We've been really careful to research ways to help her overcome her anxiety, and it has been a series of progression and regressions. Lately, it has been more progression:-)

She has a problem with cage aggression and will not allow anyone to pick her up without thrashing around and leaving the person with blood on their arm and hands. I'm worried about this because it will be time for her pedicure soon. She reacts to noise a lot. If she hears something she doesn't like, she stamps her feet repeatedly. She has particular antipathy toward rap music. I think the beat and bass combination frighten her. They feel vibrations.

Lately she has been comfortable enough to sleep at my feet while I work on the computer, and she responds to my voice. She even seems happy to see me in the morning and paces excitedly waiting for her daily treat. I give Comet a Mr. Barkey vegan dog treat, and Rosalie gets offended if she doesn't also get to partake. She has even nudged Comet's nose away from the treat and stolen his! She gets her very own now, and when she is finished she will go to Comet and see if he has any leftovers (he never does).

A few minutes ago while I was buried in my laptop and sitting on the sofa, she jumped up and cautiously climbed next to me. She climbed on my arm for some affection and I talked to her softly. I didn't want to chase her away with a petting, so I just talked to her and looked into her soulful purple eyes and told her what a brave bunny she is. Little victories are sweet.

Look What My Husband Rescued

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Jeff got home from being at the new house and brought me these itty bitty baby mice:

He was at the house selling our flat top stove, and isn't sure if the babies were in the stove or the guy's truck who bought it. They searched everywhere for any more babies and the mama, but couldn't find any more. I hope the rest are ok, if there are any. He thought it was best to bring them home for me to evaluate and get them into the right hands. They eat very often and they need nourishment. They are about 12 days old. They are so tiny! They are barely the size of a nickel!

They still need mama's milk, and I am not set up with supplies to nurse them right now, so he took them to the emergency vet. They have everything to keep these little cuties fed and happy until they can send them to the appropriate wildlife rehabilitation specialist pick them up. I would love to care for them and wish I could.

They are adorable!